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Published: January 11th 2007
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My fellow roadtrippers
Jesse and Tui Next to a lake just out of Whistler. Well its been another 4 weeks since my last entry, and again im on a bus, this time back to Fort Mcmurray. Ive just finshed my break and am about to go back to work up north. Im on the bus with all oil sands workers and they just started the movie, “The Ice Princess”. At least no one on the bus would have seen it. A good time to write my new entry I figure.
I had a great Christmas. Jesse’s family made me very welcome, which I am thankful for, and it made being away from home a lot easier. Santa even visited me over here. He must have got the change of address I sent him.
Christmas day. We had breakfast with Jesse’s family, including her 2 brothers and her soon to be sister (her brother proposed the day before). It was a bit of a change from home. Eating before opening presents. I didn’t think it could be done. But I must have more patience now I guess. So we had breakfast…..then opened presents. The highlights, Jesse got me a speaker system from my ipod, and I got some more family guy figurines. Im such
Mel and Nico's Cabin
This is where Mel and Nico are living. Pretty Awesome i tell you. a geek. I also got some motorcycle magazines. Yes!
A few hours later we were off to Jesse’s aunties place for Christmas dinner. Jesse’s mum has (3 or 4) sisters and there were lots of Jesse's cousins there too. Mostly in their 20’s with a couple of young ones. The night went well, we didn’t get home until 3am. A lot of cards were played, and a lot of beers were drunk.
The next day I didn’t rise till after lunch. Then I get the call, "we are picking up Jesse’s gran on the way back to Jesse's aunties place". More food, more cards, and more beer. This night we finished up a bit earlier at 11pm. Im glad of that because the next day the alarms go off at 4.20am.
I should be used to it by now. After a few hours sleep Jesse and I are off to the airport on our way to Vancouver. Departure time 6am. But because we booked our tickets late we decided to go executive class. (it was the same price as economy). Nice wide seats, an armrest each, a cooked breakfast and complementary paper. But before we got on
The Tubing Park
Fun times in the snow. the plane we had to go through airport security. Because it was holiday season and flights go from Edmonton to the States security was stupidly tight with queues at 5am. Now take into account i have had a haircut and shave a few days earlier and look as tidy as ill ever get. I went through the metal detector and passed. But i was still taken aside and scanned with the hand held detecter. I was ok with that, but when the lady doing it said. "Can i have a male attendant over here please" I was like WTF. I thought they were going for the glove, but he just had to "pat down" all the domes on my jeans. You have to watch for those exploding pants. Anyway, upon arrival we got a rental car and set about driving up to whistler. I told you there would be actual traveling in this entry.
The first day was fairly unproductive. After a few roadside naps, we met up with Mel and Nico after they finished work and they led us back to their place. They are staying an hour or so north of Whistler. Whistler is a ski town
and is very expensive to stay in; its also a bit showy where everyone has to be seen in their new ski gear; and have the latest SUV. I was more comfortable at Mels place. They were staying in a cabin on a farm, about 30 minutes from the nearest town. Its was fun, they have a ladder going upstairs into the roof, where the bedroom is. Nico had also built a ramp for snowboarding on the front deck.
The next day we went into town, did bit of shopping, and had an early dinner, as that night we were off tubing. At the lower ski slopes they have made a tubing park. There are about 6 lanes formed in the snow where you get in an inner tube that has a base in it, and slide down the slope. Unlike water slides they also let you link up. We had 4 tube all connected. While most people only got half way down the slow down area on the flat, on our last run we used it all up and then some. Hitting the foam barrier at the end. I would put the high speed down to excellent technique
Jesse and I
A photo at Stanley Park in Vancouver but in reality it was probaly due to some big christamas dinners. I also took my video camera down on a few runs making some very good footage.
The next morning Jesse and I headed back to Vancouver. We checked into a Hotel downtown and took the tram tour for the afternoon. Jesse did some shopping on Robson Street that night, as the shops are open until late. The next morning we set off early on the tram tour. We stopped at the Aquarium, which was awesome and did a bit more shopping at the Granville market. Sadly the Ducati shop was shut. We also went out and saw the new movie "Night at the museum". Very funny.
The last day of our trip was new years eve. We did a bit more shopping, but i was well over that by this stage. We took Tui around and showed him the sights, before going out to the airport.
I have come to accept that i must fit some terrorist profile somehow with my exploding pants and all, but it gets even more ridiculus. This time the metal detecter machine didnt go off (it must have some kind
Tui and a dolphin
Ok, its really just a dolphin statue in a fountain next to a shopping mall. This is one of Tui's last appearances before his accident where he lost a leg or 2. He's still in good spirits as he still has his crate. He'll be healed up in no time of secret silent alarm), but again i was taken aside. And this guy went straight to the "Pat down" without even using the handheld detecter; a full check too not just my domes. I hope it made his new year.
So we went to our departure lounge only to find our flight was delayed. We finally got in at 10:30pm. And spent new years on a public transit bus into town. Id like anyone out there to try and top that. Overall it was a great trip and i enjoyed my time off. As im finishing this im back in Ft Mac, having been at work for 3 days. It currently -41° outside allowing for windchill. Temperatures hovered around 0° for the trip so we got lucky. Seems like ill be up here until at least April, but im still enjoying it.
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Angela
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Poor Tui!!
Did he have a run in with those nasty Customs people too? A cavity search can be dangerous for a garden gnome! Any prosthetics on the way?